Just last season, Jannik Sinner led Italy to a second-straight Davis Cup title.  Thanks to his heroics and the rest of the squad, Italy bested the Netherlands 2-0 to establish its supremacy at the event. This year, too, everyone was hoping for Sinner to be a part of the team and guide his country to a third-straight trophy. Sadly, it seems that too much tennis and the ATP schedule have taken a toll on the four-time Grand Slam champion.

During a media interaction before the Austrian Open, Sinner explained his reason behind choosing not to be in Italy’s Davis Cup squad: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but after Turin, the goal is to get off on the right foot in Australia. It may not seem like it, but a week of preparation during that period can make all the difference. We won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024, and this time we decided this with my team,“ as reported by TNT Sports on October 21. 

Sinner was seen struggling earlier this month at the Shanghai Masters. In his match against Tallon Griekspoor, he was forced to retire after suffering from cramps in his right leg. As a result, he had to take a momentary break for recovery. Soon, he returned to the court for the Six Kings Slam last week in Riyadh, where he claimed the staggering $6 million winner’s prize. After completing the exhibition event, he was expected to prepare for the Davis Cup next month, but fatigue has taken over for the 24-year-old player, and Italy’s captain for the event, Filippo Volandri, understands. 

After consistently appearing for his nation in the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions, it will be the first time in the last five years that Sinner won’t be part of Italy’s Davis Cup team. Volandri confirmed that Sinner “has not given his availability” for the event in Bologna from 18-23 November but defended the world number two’s choice: “The Davis Cup is, and will remain, always his home, and I am sure that Jannik will soon be part of the team again. In the meantime, I can count on a group ready to fight and give everything for the blue jersey.”

However, Sinner’s absence has once again sparked heated debate in Italy. It’s not the first time he has faced criticism for skipping national duty. Back in 2023, he was also questioned when he withdrew from the Davis Cup Finals group stage due to injury—only to return later in the quarter-finals to help Italy beat the Netherlands. This year, the backlash has been even sharper, with newspapers like Gazzetta dello Sport urging him to “think it over again” and former players like Nicola Pietrangeli calling his decision “a slap in the face to Italian sport.”

Italy will now look to Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli, ranked eighth and 22nd in the world respectively, to lead the singles line-up as the team faces Austria in the quarter-finals.

The decision comes amid growing discussions about the taxing nature of the ATP tour. After Holger Rune sustained a season-ending injury at the Nordic Open, British number one Jack Draper commented on social media that “the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are going to achieve some sort of longevity.” Sinner’s choice further goes on to show the challenges players face in balancing national duty with the rigors of the professional circuit.

The decision also came just hours after Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his commitment to represent Spain in the Davis Cup Finals. For Italian fans hoping for another high-profile clash between Sinner and Alcaraz on the international stage, the news brought disappointment. Because Sinner’s focus seems to be on his title defense in Melbourne. 

“The goal is to get back on track in Australia. In the last two years, I haven’t been at the top because there was little time, so we made this decision – we’ll see.” The Italian world number two is scheduled to take part in the ATP Tour Finals in Turin from 9-16 November, and he will now focus on defending his titles in the Australian Open and continuing his remarkable 2025 season.

While Sinner may not be going to Bologna for the team-based tournament, the 24-year-old is in Vienna for another title defense.

Jannik Sinner looks to recreate the magic in Vienna

Back in 2019, he made his debut at the ATP 500 event in Vienna. The impact was low as he exited in R16. But in the subsequent editions, he only grew stronger.

In 2021’s edition, Sinner succeeded in entering the semis. The result also propelled him into the top 10 for the first time. He missed out on the final, though, after losing to America’s Frances Tiafoe. The next season, too, he showed a consistency as he made it to the QF round. But the best performance came during his 2023 campaign.

He went on to beat the likes of Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Andrey Rublev, and Daniil Medvedev to lift his maiden trophy in Vienna. In the summit clash, he bested Medvedev in a thrilling, three-hour-and-six-minute contest. With a scoreline of 7-6(7) 4-6 6-3, Sinner dominated the Russian ATP icon. “It took a lot of mental and physical stuff,” he admitted after the victory. “To finish the match was a really mental thing but I’m happy about how I managed it today.”

After skipping the tournament last year, it will be Jannik Sinner’s first appearance at the Vienna Open. He is set to kick off his journey against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. It will be intriguing to see whether the Italian can defend his title from two years ago.